Post Oscar Thoughts

Okay, I am just going to say it...this year's Oscars were a drag.  Did anyone else feel like there weren't very many superstars there or was it just me?  Not that I am dogging anyone who was there at all.  To me this event is like the ultimate stage so I just thought more people would come out that's all.

My best dressed of the night goes to Mila Kunis.  

I was extremely disappointed in Anne Hathaway's dress selections.  In my book RZ failed and it makes me sad to say this because I think she is great.  You can check them out here.  What did you think?!

The only one I would wear.

James & Anne didn't do a very good job hosting.  They were kind of boring.  James looked high most of the time.  I would grade this years Oscars with a C+.  The stage looked great, Kings Speech was amazing, the F-bomb was dropped and Wally Pfitzer won for Best Cinematographer.  

Our Little Oscar Party

I hope y'all had a fabulous weekend!  MAG and I spent the weekend working out, catching up on last minute movies before the Oscars, attending his sisters birthday dinner and hosting our own little Oscar Party!  I look forward to this weekend every year.  There is just something about the awards show that makes me happy.  I think the main thing is that one day MAG and I hope to attend.  We will just have to wait and see what happens:)

Yesterday I spent most of the afternoon prepping for our dinner party with a few close friends.  One the menu was chili, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, brie with honey and cranberries, carrots with dip and red velvet cupcakes for desert.  Overall it was a great party and everyone nominated me to host it next year.   I love doing stuff like this so the fact that everyone enjoyed it made me feel awesome.  Here are some pictures.  The quality sucks because they were taken on my iphone.

 Intensely filling out the ballots!

Mixed Emotions

Today is weird.  I am happy it is Friday, don't get me wrong, but the last 24 hours have given me mixed emotions about a few things.  Today this cute boy, Ross-my sisters boyfriend, heads off to Afghanistan.

Ross' Mom-Pam, Kristie, Ross, My Mom-Chris, and Nicole at the Marriott in New Bern, NC.  The hotel staff made him a sign to say THANK YOU!  How sweet:)

 The love birds last weekend.

As we speak they are actually waiting for the bus to pick them up.  As I said in my post here I haven't been directly effected by the Iraq war until now.

All the soldiers waiting for the buses to pick them up and ship out.

My moms brother, Jeff, was killed during his second tour to Vietnam.  I know how a war can tear apart a family making everyone become numb to hard situations.  This is my biggest fear for Kristie and his family.  They are so madly in love, have talked about getting married and starting a family a few years after he returns.  I want this for her.  This makes me extremely sad just thinking about this.

I know some of you have reached out to me with your thoughts and condolences and I truly appreciate it.  I will continue to keep you updated with Ross and my sister.   Hopefully next month MAG and I will be volunteering for Operation Gratitude.  I am waiting to hear back from their volunteer coordinator with info.

Sorry for such a heavy topic going into the weekend.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned.  It will be rainy and overcast here so no running by the beach :(  We still have to see King's Speech by Sunday so we will be up to date with the Oscars.

Oscar Parties

As you know from my post here we are big Oscar people.  The Academy Awards are this Sunday.  I found on Deadline Hollywood and list of some of the parties that are happening this week around the city.  I seriously would give just about anything to attend.  I am sure MAG would too.

One event that is on the list is the Film Independent's Spirit Award.  This is an award that goes out to Best Feature, Best First Feature and Best Feature Made Under $500K {The John Cassavetes Award} and many more.  In our household this is the goal for The Ocean Black {if/when it gets made into a feature}.   I know some of you must think we are crazy, but it is MAG's passion so we have to Just Go With It {pun intended}!

If we were invited to a cocktail party this is what I would wear.  This is the best part right?!  

PS. In my dreams I have this body:)

Oscar Cocktail Party by bkg713 on Polyvore.com

The Story of Us: How We Met

MAG and I have been together forever, like almost half of my life.  Starting today I am going through old memories about how we came to be {mainly for my sake so I have some type of record}.  This segment will be called The Story of Us.  Pictures will accompany posts soon.

It was the first day of summer after my freshman year in high school.  I was 14 years old.  Somehow I persuaded my parents to let me go to an end of school party on Saturday night {6/12/1999} with my friend Courtney.  She was friends with now seniors, who had their own cars, so naturally they picked us up.  This was my first experience hanging out with an older crowd in HS.  At the time I was nervous, but excited to be exposed to something new and different. 

I remember just before the guys came to pick us up Court showing me their yearbook pictures.  She showed me MAG.  I thought he was cute.  I asked her why he was picking us up.  She told me he had a crush on her, but she liked on of his friends Nick.  The two of them plus another friend, Jim, were the ones picking us up.  Next thing I know we are in the car.  MAG is driving, wearing a Seattle Mariners baseball cap, and I am in the back seat with his 10 year old cousin.  At the time he babysat for his aunt during the summer and opened boxes at her decorating store.  The party we were going to was in his aunt’s neighborhood so we dropped Tommy off and headed there.  

It was a strange party.  I didn’t know anyone.  Court and Nick went off somewhere.  Jim was dating the girl who was throwing it, so MAG and I sat on a lounge chair by the pool talking.  He asked if I had a bf, I told him yes. {In reality I had a crush on a guy who lived in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.  I had been down there a week prior with my other best friend, Courtney, at her grandparent’s condo.  It was nothing serious even thought at the time I wanted it to be.}  We made small talk the rest of the evening and then the group headed back to Courtney’s house and hung out.  

The next day I woke up and the first thing I thought about was MAG.  I called Court and told her we needed to hang out with him again.  On Sunday the two of us wanted to go to our church youth group so we called MAG to see if he wanted to come and drive us.  She made me call, so I did.  He ended up having a migraine and wasn’t feeling well.  Honestly I was pretty bummed out.  It was at that point that I knew I really liked him and couldn’t wait to see him again…

{Side note: At this time in my life I had two very close friends named Courtney.}

You Go Girl!

MAG showed me this video last night.  He wants this to be our daughter.

Top Two Tuesday...

Top 2 Things you've learned from your parents or grandparents

1. Communication is Key!  My parents always had an open and honest relationship with us growing up.  Because of this I am this way.  I would see my parents work out issues they had that weren't intended for teenagers, but by them doing this I was able to realize how important it is to communicate with your partner.  I think MAG and I have a great relationship because of this.  He always knows where I stand and vice versa.

2. Follow your dreams!  Ever since I was little I grew up hearing about how my parents left Arizona after they got married to start a new life somewhere different-that was their dream.  Little did I know growing up the same thing would happen to me.  My parents are two of the most supportive people I know.  I think this is why I am so optimistic on life because at a young age they instilled in me with thoughts that anything is possible.  Here I am living in Santa Monica with my hubby & best friend spending weekends at the beach.  I guess I dreamed pretty big!

Teachers

Teachers hold a very near and dear place in my heart.  Both of my parents are teachers and I could not be more proud!  My mom was a stay at home mom for 17 years when she had me and my two younger sisters.  She went back my senior year in high school because my dad decided to quit his job and go back to his true passion teaching.  Obviously a family of 5 couldn't live on a teachers salary for very long so my mom decided she would go back to work.  Her first year back she taught next to the middle school my dad taught at so they car pooled.  I loved this because I got to use my moms car and drive to school.  A couple years later a 3rd grade position opened up at a school less than a mile from their house.  She got the job and could walk to work if she wanted.  {This makes me so jealous!  Traffic lately has been awful.}

Both of my parents are so hard working and dedicated towards educating the Future Leaders, Teachers, Superstars, Executives that it makes me smile to tell you...my mom won Teacher of the Year at her school for 3rd grade!  It was a unanimous vote.  She texted me this cute picture I had to share with you!

Not to leave my dad out :)  He will retire in a couple years and wants to run for the school board.  In the county my parents teach in there is not ONE ex-teacher on the board.  This makes my dad livid to say the very least!  He also has aspirations of creating a documentary with MAG on vocational schooling for those students who aren't on their college prep path.  He teaches ESOL students {and has for 8 years} and a extremely small percentage have gone on to college.  He and MAG feel that there should be another option for them.  This is a passion project for my dad.  I can't wait until we have some extra money in the next few years to start putting together this documentary.

Secrets

I secretly want to be her...

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Is it really only Wednesday?

This seems like the LONGEST week I have had in awhile.  Work has been insanely busy with lots of adjustments.  In the long run they will be great for the company, but they just take some getting used to.  Part of it is that I am still trying to master my new position as an EA.  I love my boss, my job and the company so all in all it was a great move for me back in December.  Not something I want to do the rest of my life but I have a 2-year agreement with my boss to put in my time here and he will put me in the area I want to pursue.  Yes, I know I am so lucky!

Our Vday was okay but not due to lack of trying.  MAG went out of his way to make the day special with flowers, surf and turf dinner, champagne and lots of kisses, but I was not in the right state of mind.  I brought work home and I shouldn't have.  Wife fail!  I still feel awful about it.  I am thinking of booking a room this weekend in Vegas and surprising him.  We have never been and it is only a 4 hour drive.  Could be fun!

I am LOVING that I did 5.2 miles on Saturday.  Both running & walking.   MAG and I have discovered the best route to see the pretty homes in Santa Monica and the beach.  This makes me not want a day job so I can do this everyday.

I am LOVING that today is Wednesday.  Half way through the week.

I am LOVING that my trip home for Melissa's wedding is about 2 1/2 months away.

I am LOVING that I actually read last night before I went to bed.  I want to finish this book by the end of the month.

I am LOVING that it is rainy today, but HATING the traffic that comes with it:(

Happy Valentine's Day!

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I hope you and your loved one{s} have a nice Valentine's Day!  If Vday isn't your thing I hope you enjoy your Monday night watching The Bachelor, enjoying a glass of wine and thinking thank you Monday, you are almost over :)

Happy Valentine's Day Weekend

I thought this was so cute that I just had to join!  What a perfect way to head into Valentine's Day Weekend:) Head over to Teaching in Heels and Kelly's Avenue to join in.

1. What is your favorite romantic comedy?  

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2. What are your favorite flowers?

These were my bridesmaids flowers from my wedding.  I was obsessed with the colors and flowers.

3. What is your favorite Valentine's Day treat to eat?

Hands down Dove Chocolate!

4. Describe your best Valentine's Day.

I am not quite sure what my best V-day was.  I am really looking forward to spend this day with MAG.  We are in a really great spot right now.  I am so lucky to have him in my life.  We are making surf n' turf and sharing a bottle of wine & cheesecake.  

5. What has been the most romantic night of your life?

 The night we got engaged.  It was such a whirlwind experience. MAG did such a great job planning everything and it was a total surprise.  It was the most romantic because he proposed to me with the same diamond his dad used for his mom 24 years before and it was the night of my parents 29th wedding anniversary. He made me feel like a million bucks!

6. What's your go to date night outfit?

Boot cut jeans, T-Strap Heels, a cute top/sweater for fall/winter

A fun dress for spring/summer

7. Where is your favorite place to go on a date?

The Getty or our favorite sushi place, Niko Niko

8. Store bought Valentine's or homemade?

Homemade

9. What is your favorite love song?

At Last by Etta James.  This was my grandparents song.  They had such a cute love story so every time I hear it I think of them.  I also love Ain't No Mountain High Enough and The Way You Look Tonight {which is what we danced to at our wedding}.

10. If you had to pick a date for Valentine's who would it be?

I am going to assume this would be if I wasn't with my husband, so I will say Ryan Gosling:)

Cute Giveaway!

On of My favorite blogs is The Roaring Twenties (mine that is).  Jax is s duper cute girl living in Tulsa and enjoying life.  She is always upbeat and fun to read, so check her out!

Today she is hosting a giveaway to Apothica.com for a $25 dollar gift card!

I have been looking for the perfect makeup bag to fit in my purse and I think I may of found it.  So cute!

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Smoothies=Healthy & Yummy

One of the cooks at our cafe makes my boss and I smoothies ever afternoon.  They are so tasty I thought I would try and recreate them.   My first attempt went horribly wrong, they turned out to me more like juice.  So I talked to our cook and he told me the secret = frozen fruit!

Fruits and Veggies picked up from the Farmer's Market by my apartment on Sunday.

Smoothie Recipe

{I don't measure anything. I just throw it in the blender.}

Frozen Fruit {I like strawberries, blue berries, banana and oranges, not all together at once}

about 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt {you can substitute sorbet if you like}

about 1/2 cup OJ {or other fruit juice}

1 heavy scoop of protein powder

Blend for 30 seconds and ta-da you have a smoothie. 

 {sometimes the fruit gets stuck to be aware, just get a spoon out and dislodge it from the spinner}

Serves 2 people and I am full for most of the morning.

This week we have had strawberry-banana and strawberry-blueberry.  Today we tried strawberry-banana-orange.  It was pretty good!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I am still LOVING that I won my works Super Bowl Pool.  Still grinning:)

I am LOVING that MAG has decided to become healthy with me. 

I am LOVING that I have a parking spot in lot 1 as of today.  It is the small things.  We have 5 lots and I park in 5 (of course the one that is the farthest away from my building).  

I am LOVING making smoothies every morning for breakfast.  They are so yummy!

I am LOVING that I can walk to the farmers market on the weekends.

I am LOVING that it is Wednesday.  Happy Hump Day!

Best Super Bowl Ever!

I was not excited about the Super Bowl this year.  I am more of a commercials and halftime show kind of girl.  At work we did a Super Bowl square pool at $20 per square.  I was extremely hesitant to join mainly because I could think of a lot of other fun things to do with 20 bucks than give it to some VP, but I thought the return was worth the risk.  1st-3rd Quarters=$400 and Final Score=$800.  Well I got the final score and WON $800!!!!  We were at my sister in laws house and we both started FREAKING out, jumping up and down screaming.  It was quite a high.  I am still grinning today:)

 Here I am after freaking out.  Please disregard the hair and outfit.  

The scoreboard and my winnings! Sorry for the blurry picture.

What am I going to do with the winnings?  Buy a plane ticket home for my besties wedding, go to Disneyland for my other besties bday, shopping spree at JCrew and do something special for a friend of mine who is in a time of need.  I am not saying this because I want to be all high and might.  I just believe in paying it forward.

How was your Super Bowl Sunday?  Did you catch Glee?  I thought it was pretty good.  Thriller was interesting.  I like the song they mashed it with.